Power-operated register resetting mechanism for gasoline dispensing pumps



March 4, 1952 c. A. P. THOMAS POWEROPERATED REGISTER RESETTING MECHANISM FOR GASOLINE DISPENSING PUMPS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 12, 1949 INVENTOR C'zcu AB 77(0/145 March 4, 1952 Q p THOMAS 2,587,925

POWER OPERATED REGISTER RESETTING MECHANISM FOR GASOLINE DISPENSING PUMPS Filed Jan. 12, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 pi fi ahnrnd h IL INVENTOR CECIL AJ? Dorms BY 4 q. ATT 'RNEYS March 4, 1952 c. A. P. THOMAS 2,587,925

POWER-OPERATED REGISTER RESETTING MECHANISM FOR GASOLINE DISPENSING PUMPS Filed Jan. 12, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 656/1. 14.]? 7710/1/15 ATTOR EYS Patented Mar. 4, 1952 POWER-OPERATED R MECHANISM FOR G PUMPS EGISTER RESETTING ASOLINE DISPENSING Cecil A. P. Thomas, West Springfield, Mass., as-

signor to Gilbert & Barker Manufacturing Company, West Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 12, 1949, Serial No. 70,468

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to liquid measuring and dispensing apparatus, such as are adapted for use in service stations for dispensing measured quantities of gasoline.

Such apparatus commonly includes a register, usually of the number wheel type, which indicates the cost as well as the volume of the liquid dispensed and which is driven by a meter actuated by the pumped liquid. The register is provided with a shaft for resetting the number wheels to zero, when required. This shaft does not move with the number wheels during a dispensing operation but it is operable after a dispensing operation, when turned through a predetermined range, to reset all the number wheels to zero. The general practice heretofore is to turn this resetting shaft by hand.

This invention has for an object the provision of a power means, automatically operable when released, to turn the resetting shaft of the register through the range necessary to effect resetting of the number wheels to zero, and a transmission from pump motor of the liquid dispensing apparatus to the power means for storing power in the latter, such transmission including a slip type clutch, preferably of the magnetic type, which will slip after the needed amount of power has been stored in the power means, together with a means normally restraining the power means from actuating said shaft but manually releasable, whenever desirable, to

enable the powermeans to act.

The invention will be disclosed with reference to one illustrative embodiment of it shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a gasoline dispensing apparatus embodying the invention, most of the front panel having been broken away to reveal interior mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view, drawn to a larger scale and showing the register, the power means for resetting the regis ter and the interlock mechanism preventing resetting during dispensing and vice versa;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional plan,

cross sectional and sectional plan views taken on the lines 3-3, 4--4, and 5-5 respectively, of Fig. 2 and showing the power means for resetting the register;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevational view of the power means for resetting the register;

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view taken on the line l-'! of Fig. 6 and showing the magnetic clutch;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view illustrative of part of the rotary transmission from the pump motor to the power means for resetting the register; V

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional plan view illustrative of a modification in detail;

Figs. 10 and 11 are cross sectional views taken on the lines l6l0 and ||H of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 12 is a view taken similarly to Fig. 11 but showing the motor control locked prior to resetting the register.

Referring to these drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 by way of illustrative example, one form of gasoline dispensing apparatus in which the invention may be embodied. A pump l, driven by an electric motor 2, as by the belt 3 and pulleys i and 5, draws up gasoline from an underground storage tank (not shown) through a suction pipe 6 and forces it through a pipe 1, an air separator 8, and a pipe 9 into a meter [0 and thence by a pipe II, a visible discharge indicator l2 and a pipe [3 into a flexible delivery hose 14, having on its discharge end a valved hose nozzle [5. The meter H), which is of the positive displacement type, drives by means of a shaft It, a register- 0 ing mechanism which is contained in a casing ll. This registering mechanism may include a set of three number wheels l8 indicating gallons and having their indications visible through windows IS in the dial plate 25, a set of three numoer wheels 2| indicating cost and having their indications visible through the windows 22, and a set of number wheels 23, indicating the price per gallon and having their indications visible through windows 24. Beneath the casing I7 is a casing 25, containing a variable speed transmission to drive the cost number wheels 2| in proper relation to the gallons number wheels I8 in order to show the cost of the gasoline dispensed computed at the unit price displayed by the number wheels 23. The register has a resetting shaft 28 (Fig. 2), operable when turned through a certain angular range, to reset the number wheels l8 and 2| to zero.

The dispensing apparatus shown is of the extensible hose type. Starting from the discharge end of pipe l3 in Fig. 1, the hose i4 extends downwardly into a well 21, around a weighted sheave 28, thence upwardly out of well 21, thence across the pump casing guided by rolls 29, and then out of the casing where it hangs in a loop with the nozzle [5 normally hung up on a fixed support 30. A trough 3i underlies the hose M where it crosses the casing. The arrangement is substantially like that shown in Hope Patent No. 2,242,749, dated May 20, 1241, to which reference aasmzs 3 is made for a more complete disclosure if necessary or desired.

The apparatus described is supported from a framework comprising a base 32, four angle iron columns 33, which are fixed to the base and upstand therefrom, and a dome 34, which surmounts the four columns and ties them together at their upper ends. The space between the base and dome is enclosed by four panels. There are two side panels 35 each of which is fixed to the adjacent pair of angle irons and there are front and rear panels 36 and 31, respectively, which are suitably mounted for convenient removal. The front panel is for the most part removed in Fig. 1 to show the interior mechanism. The motor 2 and pump I are fixed to a shelf 38, suitably fixed to columns 33, and the register casings l1 and are supported by a similar shelf 39, similarly fixed to the columns. The described well 2! is formed between the left hand side panel and a plate fixed to and extending between the two adjacent columns 33 and extending upwardly from the base 32 to the left hand end of the trough 3|. F 4

The power means for actuating the resetting shaft consists of a spiral spring 4!, contained within a drum 42 (Fig. 5). One end of this spring is fixed to a pin 43 in the drum and the other end is fixed to hub 44. This hub, as best shown in Fig. 6 is part of a disk 44, which is fixed to a short vertical shaft 45, rotatably mounted in a bearing 43. Fixed to the upper end of this shaft is a bevel gear 4'! which meshes with a bevel gear 48 on a short horizontal shaft 49. The latter is rotatably mounted in a bearing 50 and its inner end is received in a socket 5|, which is fixed on one end of the resetting shaft 26, and connected to drive the socket by a pin 52 which fits into a slot in the socket. The disk 44' is restrained from turning by a detent 53 engaging in a notch in the disk (see also Fig. 9). This detent is pivoted to ears on the bearing 46 and is urged into engagement with the disk by a spring 54 acting on an upward extension 55 of the detent. The detent may be released from the notch by pressing inward y on a button 56 which is conveniently located outside the casing 35 and fixed to a rod 51. the inner end of which is en ageable with extension 55 to release the detent 53. This rod 51 (Fig. 2) is slidably mounted in a bearing '58 on casing 35 and also in a plate 53, which is fixed as shown in Fig. 4 to one of the columns 33. A spring 60 normallv holds rod 5'! retracted in the position shown in Fig. 2. The bearings 46 and 50 as well as another bearing 6! (to be later referred to) are parts of a bracket 32 (Fig. 4) fixed as indicated to plate 59.

For winding up the spring 4! while the latter is restrained from turning the resetting shaft 23 by the detent 53, a rotary transmission is provided from the motor 2 which drives the pump. This transmission is indicated in its entirety in Fig. 1 and the driving and driven ends thereof are shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 6 respectively. The transmission includes a slip type clutch which is preferably of the magnetic type, enabling the driving e ement to slip relatively to the driven element without causing wear of the elements. As shown in Fig. 6, the drum 42, which contains the resetting spring 4| has fixed to its lower face a laminated iron member 33. This member as shown in Fig. '7 has on its outer periphery a circular series of angular spaced pole pieces 64. The member 63 fits within a drum 65 of non-magnetic material to which are fixed a circular series of laminated pole shoes 66, corresponding in number and spacing to the pole pieces 64. Each pair of pole shoes 66 is interconnected by a permanent bar magnet 61. The arrangement is such that alternate pole shoes 63 in the series are of 0pposite polarity. This drum 65, as shown in Fig. 6, is fixed to a vertical shaft 68 which is rotatably mounted in the described bearing 6!. The upper end of shaft 68 is piloted in a hole in the magnetic rotor 63. The lower end of shaft 68 is connected by the coupling 69 to one end of a flexible shaft 10, which is housed in a sheath H, connected by the coupling 12 to the threaded lower end of hear ing 6|. The other end of shaft 76 (Fig. 8) is con nected to be driven by a worm gear 13, housed in a casing 14 to which the sheath H is connected by a coupling 15. In mesh with gear 73 is a worm I6 fixed to a shaft H which is mounted in casing 14 and extends outside the latter carrying a pulley 18. The casing 14 is fixed to an arm '19 pivoted at 80 to one of the columns 33. The pulley 18 is pressed against belt 3 by a spring Bl which connects arm 19 to shelf 38.

It will be clear that when the motor 2 is started, the flexible shaft 10 will drive drum 65 and the latter by magnetic attraction will drive the member63 and thus drum 42. Since disk 44 is then held stationary by detent 53, the spring 4| will be wound up. The winding continues until sufficient power is stored in spring 4| for the resetting function. After the spring has been stressed so that the torsional force on member 63 tending to turn it backward is exceeded by the torsional force due to the magnets and tending to turnmember 63 forward, the drum 65 will turn with out turning member 63. The spring 4| will be wound up in the first few seconds of operation of motor 2 and thereafter the magnetic clutch will slip until the motor 2 is stopped. Magnetic at traction between the clutch members will hold the spring 4| from unwinding. The rotor of pump 5 will not be able to turn since the entire dispensing conduit is filled with liquid. Thus, the belt 3 and the rotor of motor 2 will be held stationary and therefore shaft TI] and drum 65 will be held stationary. If necessary, a holding pawl, such as 82 in Fig. 9, pivoted to plate 59, could engage a ratchet 83 on drum 42 and positively prevent reverse rotation of this drum and the unwinding of spring 4! Before describing the resetting operation, it is necessary to consider certain provisions in the register and in the customary interlock between the resetting shaft and the controlling means for motor 2, both the provisions and the interlock affecting the resetting operation.

The particular register shown is the same as that disclosed in the DeLancey Patent No. 2,390,239, dated December 4, 1945. The well known Veeder-Root computing register may equally well be used. Both include the same general arrangement, whereby the resetting shaft is turned forwardly 405 to effect resetting and is then turned backwardly 45, making a net movement of 360 or one revolution of shaft 23. Referrin to Fig. 10, shaft 23 has fixed thereon within the housing I! a ratchet 84 and a disk 85 having a single radial notch 86 therein. A spring pressed pawl 8! cooperates with ratchet 84 and is normally engaged with ratchet tooth 88. A member 89 is pivoted to a shaft 93 and carries near its lower end a roll 9| adapted to engage in notch 86. A spring 92, connecting member 89 to a stationary part (not shown). of the register, tends to turn member 83 clockwise and through roll 9| to Fig. is. taken.

turn disk 85 counterclockwise but cannot do so because of the engagement of pawl 8? with ratchet tooth 88. The resetting shaft 26 is thus held against reverse rotation. To reset the register, shaft 26 is turned clockwise as viewed in Fig. 10. As the shaft is thus turned the first action is to move roll iii to the right and stress spring 92. This action continues for 45 when roll 9I will have moved completely out of notch 88 and onto the periphery of disk 35, where it will not exert any force acting to turn the disk backward. During this 45 interval, the usual clutches (not shown) will be actuated to disconnect each set of number wheels from the driving mechanism and then connect them to the resetting shaft 25, all as disclosed in said DeLancey patent. The first tooth 93 of ratchet 84 is slightly more than 45". One can therefore turn the shaft through the initial 45 movement and then move it backward to zero. However, after the resetting commenses, which occurs just after the initial 45 movement of shaft is completed, the shaft 25 cannot be restored to its initial position by reverse rotation because of the pawl 23? and ratchet 84. Shaft 26 can then only be turned forwardly or clockwise, wherefore resetting, once initiated, must be completed. After the shaft has turned 405, the notch 85 will move under roll 9! and the latter will drop into the notch and the sprin acting through member 39 and roll ill, will turn diskiili backwardly 45 into the position shown,

the long tooth 3 permitting this reverse movement. Resetting will have been completed prior to this reverse movement of shaft It will thus be seen that shaft 26, thus the notched disk M, always come to rest in the same positions. The spring 4| must be strong enough to turn shaft 26 the necessary 405 movement and overcom the force of spring 92. As the resetting movement is completed, spring lI is nearly unwound and spring 92 can readily overpower it to cause the backward movement of the resetting means into initial position.

The motor 2 is controlled by a handle 96 (Fig. 2) located outside the pump casing and adjacent the outer end of the hose nozzle support Sal. This handle is fixed to a shaft 95 mounted in the support 38 which is fixed to a plate 95, suitably fastened (Fig. 11) to certain of the columns This shaft 95 extends inside the pump casing and has fixed to its inner end an arm 9? which is connected by a Bowden wire 92% to actuate a switch in the casing of motor 2. This switch has a rod 39 which is connected to the lower end of the Bowden wire and which when pulled outwardly (to the left as viewed in Fig. 1) will close the switch and start the motor. When rod is in the position shown in Fig. l the motor switch is open.

There is customarily provided an interlo .z =bctween resetting shaft and the switch control shaft 195. An example of one such interlock is shown in Figs. 11 and 12. These two views are taken from a direction opposite to that in which Hence in Figs. ii and 12 the direction of resetting is counterclockwise instead of clockwise as in Fig. 10. A latch see is pivoted on a stud Iill .to plate 56 and is movable from one to the other of two extreme positions. In one position, shown in Fig. 12, latch lt c engages a shoulder I62 on a member I53, mounted to turn on astud I84, fixed to plate ea. This member lfltandan arm I535 are pinned together, as indicated, and the arm if??? is connected by a link 186 to the lever 91, which operates the motor switch. Lugs III! on a member list are engageable' with a stop I08, fixed on plate 96, to limit the movement of the member. This member I03 is shown locked in switch off position with one lug I I]? engaging the stop I I38. When unlocked, in a manner to be described, the member I93 is free to turn until the other lug IIJ'I engages the stop I98 and the member will then be in switch on position.

The latch Iiifl is moved from one to the other of its two extreme positions by toggle mechanism. A toggle link I89 is pivotally mounted at one end on a stud IIlI to swing independently of latch ill!) and at its other end is pivoted to one end of a second toggle link H9. The lower end of link IlIl slides in a lug III on plate 9'6 and a spring II2 acts between this lug and a shoulder on the link. The toggle link I 09 has pins II3 thereon which project outwardly in underlying relation with latch I56. When the toggle links are moved from one to the other of the two extreme positions illustrated, one or the other of these pins its will engage and move the latch 43!). The toggle links are moved either by a cam II4 fixed to member H33 or by a cam H5 on a member H6, operated by the resetting shaft 26 through an extension 25. Each of these cams will engage the adjacent pin I !3 and move it and the toggle links far enough to cross the line of centers connecting the outer pivot points of the two toggle links, in this case, the center of stud lei and the axis the hole in lug III. As shown, the earn 1 55 will, after the member I I6 has been turned counterclockwise, say 280, engage the upper pin IIS and swing the toggle link we in a clockwise direction until it crosses the aforesaid line of centers, whereupon the previously compressed spring l $2 will expand and move the lower pin H3 against the latch It!) in position to move the iatter to release the member I83 and allow the switch to open. But the release does not immediately occur because of the restraining action of a lug II! which, shortly after the member it Hi was started on its counterclockwise movement, moved in under a curved surface I I8 on the under side of latch I 00 and against a tooth II9 on the latch. This lug is carried by a disk I20, mounted to turn on the same stud IZI, which rotatably supports the member HE. A spring disk I22 (Fig. 2) on stud I 2| presses disk I20 against the back of member IIS so that the member frictionalr drives disk I28 with it until the latter engages tooth HE. This disk I20 thus moves L5 c0unterclockwise and then comes to rest, preventing movement of latch I until the resetting shaft 25 has completed one full revolution and been released for the automatic 45 clockwise movement described. Such clockwise movement will cause disk iii! to be driven by member IIS to carry lug II'i out of engagement with latch Ieil, whereupon the latch will be moved to its other position with a snap action by the expanding toggle spring I I2. In this other position, latch .Iiill will have moved away from shoudler I02 to release the motor switch for operation and the tooth I I9 will have been moved into a notch I23 in member MS to lock the resetting shaft against operation.

When the motor switch is turned on by moving lever 97 in a clockwise direction from the Fig. 11 position until the right hand lug lei stop i98, the cam H4 will engag the i I I3, which is then in contact with the l of latch I09, and move the toggle i counterclockwise direction until it crosses of centers of the toggle, after which the II2 will move the link still further in the same I24 of member I93.

direction until the upper pin H3 engages the lower edge of latch I00. But the latch till? can not then move counterclockwise to withdraw tooth H9 from notch I23 and release the resetting shaft 26 for operation because the latch is restrained by its lower end resting on a surface Not until the motor switch is turned off is the latch released to be moved by the spring I I2 far enough to withdraw tooth HS from notch I23 and release the resetting shaft 26 for movement by the power means described.

The operation will be clear from the foregoing description and need be but briefly summarized. The normal condition is to leave the registe. showing the amount of the last sale and to reset the register just prior to the start of a dispensing operation. The spring 4| will have been wound up during the preceding dispensing operation and heldwound up by the detent 53 until needed to cause resetting. The pump control handle will be locked by latch I00, as shown in Fig. 3.2,

' and the tooth II9 will be withdrawn from notch I23 of member H6 so that the resetting shaft 26 will be free to turn whenever the detent is moved to release disk 44. When a dispensing operation is desired, the operator first presses in on button 56, thereby releasing the detent 53 from disk 44', whereupon the previously wound up spring tI unwinds and turns shaft 28 through the 405 movement necessary to reset the number wheels to zero. This will occur almost instantly and it is assumed that the operator will hold the button '5 pressed inwardly until resetting has been completed. If he does not, then the detent will drop back in the notch in disk 44 after one complete revolution and interrupt the resetting operation. To complete this operation, the operator will be compelled to again press the button 56 inwardly to release disk at and enable the remaining 45 movement to be eifected. At the end of the 405 movement, the spring 92 will turn shaft 25 backwardly 45 and this will move disk 44' back into position to be engaged and locked by detent 53. At the end of the 45 backward movement, the latch I538 will be released, allowing tooth I I9 to enter notch I23 and lock member H3 and thus shaft 26 against movement. At the same time, latch iiiii will be withdrawn from tooth I02, thereby enabling handle 94 to be turned to start motor 2. The interlock parts will then be in the relative positions shown in Fig. 11. The pump motor being started, dispensing and measuring of the gasoline proceeds in the usual manner, the quantity and price being indicated on the number wheels I8 and 2l, respectively. The initial operation of motor 2 acts through the transmission described to wind up spring I until sufficient power to effect the resetting operation has been stored in the spring 4|, after which the driving clutch element 65, 66, 61 continues to move while the driven clutch element 63, 64, c2 remains stationary. The power means is thus conditioned for a succeeding resetting operation. t the completion of a dispensing operation, the handle 9% is turned to stop the motor 2 and this causes the interlock parts to assume the positions shown in Fig. 12, whereby the motor switch is locked in open position and the resetting shaft is unlocked by the withdrawal of tooth I I9 from notc H23 in readiness for a subsequent resetting operation.

An alternative operation is possible if the detent 53 is removed as it may be by the withdrawal of its pivot pin. When the motor switch .isclosed, the resetting shaft .26 becomeslockc by tooth H9, as shown in Fig. 11, and the spring M will be wound up as before described. Then, when the motor switch is opened to stop the pump motor, the tooth II9 will be moved to release shaft 2-6 and resetting will be effected by spring 4|, as heretofore described. Usually, the preferred plan is to reset just prior to dispensing but, if and when automatic resetting is desired at the end of a dispensing operation, it can be had by the structure disclosed, by making the simple change described.

The structure disclosed is capable of use with other forms of registering mechanism, such as the pointer and dial type, for example. It has been disclosed herein merely in the form in which it is most likely to be used at the present time, since the computing type, number wheel form of registering mechanism is the one in general use today at gasoline service stations.

I claim:

1. In a liquid measuring and dispensing apparatus of the type having a dispensing conduit, a meter interposed in the conduit for measuring the liquid dispensed, a pump for forcing liquid through the conduit and meter, a motor for driving the pump, a control member for the motor movable from one position in which the motor is stopped to another position in which the motor operates, a register driven by the meter for indicating the amount of liquid dispensed and having a resetting shaft, an interlock between the control member and resetting shaft for holding the latter stationary while the control member is in its second-named position and for releasing the shaft when the control member is in its firstnamed position; a power means for actuating said shaft, releasable means operable independently of said interlock for restraining said power means from actuating said shaft, means for storing power in said power means while the latter is restrained by said restraining means, said powerstoring means comprising a rotary transmission from the pump-driving motor to the power means and including a slip-type clutch operable to slip after a predetermined amount of power has been stored in said power means, and means for releasing said restraining means to allow the power means to turn said shaft while said motor is stopped and reset the register.

2. In a liquid measuring and dispensing apparatus of the type having a dispensing conduit,

a meter interposed in the conduit for measuring the liquid dispensed, a pump for forcing liquid through the conduit and meter, a motor for driving the pump, acontrol member for the motor movable from one position in which the motor is stopped to another position in which the motor operates, a register driven by the meter for indicating the amount of liquid dispensed and having a resetting shaft, an interlock between the control member and resetting shaft for holding the latter stationary while the control member is in its second-named position and for releasing the shaft when the control member is in its first-named position; a power means for actuating said shaft, releasable means operable independently of said interlock for restraining said power means from actuating said shaft, means for storing power in said power means while the latter is restrained by said restraining means, said power-storin means comprising a rotary transmission from the pumpdriving motor to the power means and including a magnetic clutch operable to slip after a predetermined amount of power has been stored in said power means, and means for releasing said restraining means to allow the power means to turn said shaft while said motor is stopped and reset the register.

3. In a liquid measuring and dispensing apparatus of the type having a dispensing conduit, 9. meter interposed in the conduit for measuring the liquid dispensed, a pump for forcing liquid through the conduit and meter, a motor for driving the pump, a control member for the motor movable from one position in which the motor is stopped to another position in which the motor operates, a register driven by the meter for indicating the amount of liquid dispensed and having a resetting shaft, an interlock between the control member and resetting shaft for holding the latter stationary while the control member is in it's second-named position and for releasing the shaft when the control member is in its first-named position; a spring for turning said shaft, a latch for restraining said spring from turning said shaft,.means for conditioning said spring to turn saidshaft including a rotary transmission from the." pumpdrivir igj motor to said spring and a slip-type clutcli operable to slip after said spring has been conditioned to a predetermined degree, and manually-operable means for releasing said latch to allow the conditioned spring to turn said shaft while said motor is stopped and reset the register.

4. In a liquid measuring and dispensing apparatus of the type having a dispensing conduit, 9. meter interposed in the conduit for measuring the liquid dispensed, a pump for forcing liquid through the conduit and meter, a motor for driving the pump, a control member for the motor movable from one position in which the motor is stopped to another position in which the motor operates, a, register driven by the meter for indicating the amount of liquid dispensed and having a resetting shaft, an interlock between the control member and resetting shaft for holding the latter stationary while the control member is in its second-named position and for releasing the shaft when the control member is in its first-named position; a spiral spring for turning said shaft, a latch restraining said shaft from being turned by said spring, means for winding up said spring while the latter is restrained by said latch, said spring-winding means comprising a slip-type clutch including driving and driven elements, the driven element being connected to said spring, and a rotary transmission from the pump-driving motor to said driving element, whereby when the motor starts the pump it winds up said spring to a pre determined extent when the driven element of the clutch stops, and manually-operable means for releasing said latch to enable the spring to unwind and turn said shaft while said motor is stopped and reset said register."

CECIL A. P. THOMAS.

REFERENCES C-ITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

